Disney's new ESPN flagship streaming app launches Thursday. Here's what we know
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The app will offer two subscription plans and grant access to ESPN's full content slate outside the traditional TV bundle for the first time.
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August 21, 2025
12:27 PM
CNBC
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In this articleDIS your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTwatch now1:3201:32ESPN launching new full- ing service todaySquawk BoxDisney is launching its new ESPN flagship ing app Thursday, time for the football season, bringing customers the full ESPN suite in one place.The entertainment company has been working on the launch of the direct-to-consumer app — which is also named ESPN — for some time
It's designed to expand access for existing cable rs and give sports fans outside the traditional pay TV bundle access to all of ESPN's content.Tune in at 10 a.m
ET: CNBC's David Faber interviews Disney CEO Bob Iger and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro the launch of the new ESPN ing app
Watch in real time on CNBC+ or the CNBC .It's the first time the company is offering all of its linear TV content to customers via ing.Here's what we know what the app will look and how it will work for consumers.Plan playbookAnyone who currently pays for ESPN through their cable service will have access to the ESPN ing app.For everyone else, the app will come in a variety of options at sign-up.rs can buy into the unlimited plan, which grants access to all of ESPN's networks, for $29.99 per month or $299.99 annually.ESPN says this plan will cover more than 47,000 events annually, including the NCAA championships, the Australian Open, the PGA Championship and more.Users can also bundle the ESPN unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $35.99 a month, including ads, or $44.99 a month without ads.At launch, Disney will offer that same bundle at a motional price of $29.99 per month, with ads, for the first year.There's also another bundle on the way, in October
ESPN and Fox Corp. are teaming up to offer their direct-to-consumer ing services as a combined offering.Fox's service, called Fox One, also debuts Thursday and includes all Fox content including news and sports
It costs $19.99 a month on its own.The ESPN and Fox One bundle will be available on Oct. 2 for $39.99 per month
However, customers of the pay TV bundle will receive access to each of the ing apps at no additional cost.What's next for ESPN+Short of the ESPN unlimited offering, the company is also debuting its ESPN select tier.This plan features access to all content available on the existing ESPN+ service, including sports ing, a library of exclusive studio shows and original content and on-demand game replays.ESPN says this plan will cover more than 32,000 events annually.It will cost $11.99 per month or $119.99 annually.Customers can also purchase the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN select bundle, which includes ads, for $16.99 per month, or a no-ads option for $26.99 per month.ESPN+ was the sports network's first foray into ing, launching in 2018 as a separate app that has exclusive content outside the TV network
While it has some game simulcasts, it's never housed the bulk of ESPN's content.ESPN+ had 24 million rs as of Disney's most recent earnings report.Existing ESPN+ customers will automatically become rs of the ESPN select plan under the new service, the company has said.Customers with existing subscriptions to the ing bundles will be able to watch ESPN content on Disney+ alongside the other gramming.Bulking up contentESPN's ing service will include all of the network's games, along with gramming from ESPN2, the SEC Network and ESPN on ABC
In addition, it will feature fantasy ducts, new betting tie-ins, studio gramming and documentaries, among other kinds of content.The network recently signed two deals to bolster its sports offerings.In early August, ESPN said it was entering a partnership with the WWE for the U.S. rights to the wrestling league's biggest events, including WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble and SummerSlam
CNBC reported ESPN will pay an average of $325 million per year for five years of rights
On Wednesday, ESPN and WWE said that deal starts immediately, earlier than previously announced.ESPN also reached a deal this month with the National Football League to acquire the NFL Network in exchange for the football league taking an equity stake in ESPN.— CNBC's Alex Sherman and Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report.
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